January employment up year-over-year

Figures released Friday by the Surface Transportation Board show Class I railroads employed 162,043 people in mid-January 2013, up 1.2% from December 2012, though down 0.37%, or 609 employees, from December 2012.

All categories gained year-over-year except for Transportation (other than tainand engine), which slipped 0.19%. Executives, officials, and staff assistants led the gainers, up 3.52%; Professional and administrative rose 2.61%; Maintenance of equipment and stores rose 1.62%; Maintenance-of-Way and structures moved up 1.55%; and Transportation (train and engine) eked out a 0.31% rise.

Three categories gained modestly, and three lost ground, in January from the previous month. Among those advancing, Professional and administrative rose 0.39%; Transportation (other than train and engine) rose 0.37%; and Maintenance of equipment and stores barely budged, up 0.01% from December 2012's level. Leading the decliners was Transportation (train and engine), down 0.69%, followed by Maintenance of way and structures, down 0.59%, and Executives, officials, and staff assistants, off 0.27% from December.